Door closure structure

ABSTRACT

Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors in open disposition and arranged to provide a firm solid support for operator ingress and egress. The structure includes a cab frame, a door, and hinge means for controlling opening and closing of the door panel. Latch means are operatively coupled to the hinge means and are arranged to releasably secure the door in open disposition, with the latch means being pivotally secured to the cab frame about a pivot axis which is generally parallel to but spaced from the pivot axis for the door hinge. The latch includes a hinge means which is pivotally coupled to the cab frame along a pivot axis which is generally parallel to the main hinge, and which axis is spaced from the main hinge axis. The latch hinge includes an elongated plate which is guided along the length of the door panel, and which is provided with a locking detent adjacent one edge thereof. The latch means further includes a generally &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;U&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;shaped gripping handle having a pair of leg elements extending from the gripping handle, one leg element being arranged to engage the slotted detent formed in the hinge element, and thereby provide a gripping handle and releasable door latch.

United States Patent 1191 Johnson July 24, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT Door latchmeans for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors inopen disposition and arranged to provide a firm solid support foroperator ingress and egress. The structure includes a cab frame, a

[ DOOR CLOSURE STRUCTURE 75 Inventor: John A. Johnson, Madison Lake,

Minn.

[73] Assignee: 'Year-A-Round Cab Corp., Mankato,

Minn.

door, and hinge means for controlling opening and closing of the doorpanel. Latch means are operatively coupled to the hinge means and arearranged to releasably secure the door in open disposition,

with the latch means being pivotally secured to the cab frame about apivot axis which is generally parallel to but spaced from the pivot axisfor the door hinge. The latch includes a hinge means which is pivotallycoupled to the cab frame along a pivot axis which is generally parallelto the main hinge, and which axis is spaced from the main hinge axis.The latch hinge includes an elongated M B 6 4 n I521 2 l. 1 7 9 m m... 94 U "6 1 ""4 9 0 7 U u 2 1 Wu 3 nnm n M m m; M 2 Inn J 82 u d m d 8 .l HP mh F A UIF 1 1]] 2 l 2 8 2 2 555 .lri .l

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS plate which is guided along thelength of the door panel, and which is provided with a locking detentadjacent one edge thereof. The latch means further includes a generallyU"-shaped gripping handle having 292/263 g g g g a pair of leg elementsextending from the gripping handle, one leg element being arranged toengage the slotted detent formed in the hinge element, and therebyprovide a gripping handle and releasable door latch.

1,046,266 12/1912 Clemons 1,386,740 8/1921 Subroyar..... 1,965,7237/1934 Rupp Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney-Orrin M. Haugen 4Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 4 I975 sumzurz DOOR CLOSURESTRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesgenerally to an improved door latch, and more particularly to animproved door latch which is arranged to releasably secure vehicle cabaccess doors in opened disposition for providing a firm support toassist the operator in gaining access to the vehicle cab. The apparatusof the present invention is particularly adapted for use on vehicle cabswhich are elevated a substantial distance from the ground, such asenclosed cabs for farm tractors and other agricultural implements.

In the operation of heavy mechanized equipment, including agriculturalimplements, farm tractors, and other vehicles with substantial runningterrain clearances, the operator is required to climb to a significantlyelevated level in order to gain access to the cab area. Such access isnormally gained by utilizing steps or other items provided along thewall of the vehicle. Because of the desirability of maintaining suchassist devices relatively small, and relatively closely spaced to thevehicle wall, it has been found desirable to provide additional meansfor steadying the operator during his ingress and egress. In the past,portions of the vehicle, such as vertical posts or the like, have beenprovided with grab handles, with these grab handles normally beingrestricted for use with but one hand. The present invention provides theoperator with means for both releasably securing the cab access door inopened disposition, and for providing an additional grab handle forassisting during climbing. The latch means is arranged so that as theforce exerted on the grab handle during climbing increases, thestability of the door likewise increases.

In the past, various assist devices have been proposed which may beutilized by a vehicle operator to assist in steadying the operatorduring his climb into the vehicle cab. As previously indicated, theseassist devices have normally been in the form of grab handles secured toupright posts on the cab or the like. The normal latch handle forvehicles has frequently been utilized to assist the operator insteadying himself during the climb, howeverthe conventional handle isspring-biased and is normally free to rotate against only slight springpressure during the climb. Thus, the conventional latch provides little,if any, steadying support for the operator as he initiates his climb.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, in accordance with the presentinvention, an improved door latch is provided for releasably securingside pivoted vehicle cab access doors in opened disposition, the latchmeans comprising, in combination, cab frame means, door panel meansoperatively associated with the cab frame, and hinge means for pivotallysecuring the door panel to the cab frame. Latch means are provided whichare operatively coupled to the door panel and secured to the cab frame,these latch means being arranged to releasably secure the door in openeddisposition. The latch means include auxiliary hinge means whichcomprise a first plate having one end pivotally coupled to the cabframe, and a second elongated plate pivotally coupled to the cab frameand guided for relative motion with the door panel means. The elongatedplate is provided with a slotted detent along and adjacent the bottomedge thereof. The-latch means further includes a generally U"-shapedgripping handle having a pair ofleg elements which are pivotally securedto the door panel, the leg elements having pin means securing the legsto the door panel, and

adapting the handle for rocking pivotal motion about the pin means. Oneof the leg elements of the gripping handle is arranged for engagementwith the lower edge of the elongated hinge plate, the arrangement beingsuch that when the leg portion in contact with the edge of the elongatedplate engages the slotted detent, the door panel is secured in itsopened disposition. As the operator exerts a greater downward force-onthe gripping handle, the stability of the system is improved, and thedoor is retained more firmly in its stable open dis position.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide animproved latching mechanism for cab doors which will function toreleasably hold the door in steady open disposition so as to permit thedoor to be used as an aid in entering the cab.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide animproved latching mechanism for a vehicle cab which includes, incombination with the latching means, a gripping handle for use by theoperator in entering the cab while the door is being rigidly andsecurely maintained in open disposition.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparentto those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification,appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective viewof a typical vehicle cab utilizing a side pivoted access doorincorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line and in thedirection of the arrows 22 of FIG. 1,

and illustrating the features of the latching mechanism DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, and with particular attention being directed toFIG. 1 of the drawings, a vehicle cab structure generally designated 10is shown mounted upon a farm tractor vehicle, a portion of which isshown generally at 11. The vehicle 11 includes a frame or chassisportion as at 12, this frame or chassis portion being arranged toreceive the base of the cab frame means of the vehicle cab. The cabframe means include, for example, the base frame member 14, along withgenerally upright post members 15 and 16 extending therefrom. A roof orother cover is shown at 17.

A door panel for the vehicle cab is shown generally at 20, the doorpanel including a frame means including a horizontal base frame member21, along with a pair of generally vertically arranged posts 22 and 23,along with an upper cross-member 24. Windows are arranged as at 25 and26, the windows being separated by a handle enclosure area as at 28. Thehandle enclosure is utilized to confine the conventional latch mechanismshown, for example, at 29, along with the door latch means forreleasably securing the door in open disposition, the handle portion ofwhich is shown at 30.

The door latch means of the present invention are shown in greaterdetail in FIGS. 2-5, and attention is directed to these figures for anexplanation of the details of this structure. As is indicated, the doorpanel means are hingedly secured to the cab frame means, such as by thehinge elements 35, two of which are provided for each door. The hinge 35as illustrated in FIG. 2 is the lower hinge, and its pin member 36 is invertical axial alignment with a second hinge arranged at the upperportion of the door, such as is illustrated in FIG. 1 at 37. As isconventional in structures of this type, hinges 36 and 37 are designedto provide the hinge arrangement to open and close access door 20. As isapparent in FIG. 2, a second hinge means is provided as at 40, whichhinge means forms a portion of the latching mechanism for releasablysecuring the door in open disposition.

With continued attention being directed to FIG. 2 of the drawings, thehinge member 40 utilizes a pivot pin as at 41 to couple elongated plateor bar 42 to the cab frame post 16. It will be observed that theelongated plate 42 is disposed along a plane generally centrallydisposed of the panel area 28, this plane being spaced from the plane ofthe hinge member 35. It is this spacing which provides for relativemotion of the member 42 within door member 20 when the door is pivotallyopened. It will be further observed that grab handle generallydesignated 44, which is U shaped, is arranged to function in cooperationwith member 42.

Grab handle 44 includes a gripping handle segment 1 46, along with apair of leg members 47 and 48, the leg members 47 and 48 being pivotallymounted to the door frame by pins 49 and 50, the door frame being shownby the side panel plate 51. It will be noted that this method ofmounting grab handle 44 onto the panel 20 provides for rocking pivotalmotion of the member 44 about the pin means 49 and 50.

With continued attention being directed to FIG. 2 of the drawings, legelement 48 has a continuing portion 52 extending beyond the pin meansand arranged for engagement with the lower edge of member 42. Thisengagement feature is better illustrated in FIGS. 4 and of the drawings,along with the relationship of the leg portion 52 with the detent formedin member 42 to be described more fully hereinafter.

In addition to the means for releasably securing the vehicle access doorin opened disposition, a conventional latex mechanism is shown at 55,this mechanism including the handle 29 for actuating latch 56 forlocking engagement with a striker plate in post 15, such as isillustrated at 57. The operation and function of this member iswell-known in the art and does not require any detailed discussion here.

With particular attention now being directed to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of thedrawings, the elongated plate 42 has a bottom edge surface as at 60,into which is formed a slotted detent as at 61 to receive leg portion 52of grab handle 44, particularly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, andin the manner illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 5. Elongated plate 42is provided with a guide slot as at 62, into which is received guide pin63, with guide pin 63 being secured to the frame of door 20. It will beappreciated, therefore, that the guide means including the slot 62 andpin 63 retain the plate 42 generally along the plane of the door panel,and in a plane spaced from the pivot axis of main door hinges 35 and 35.

In actual operation, the operator will open door 20 by means of exteriorlatch or handle member 29a, with the door being permitted to swing opensufficiently far so as to permit leg portion 52 to engage slotted detent61. At this point, door member 20 will be held in opened disposition,and will remain in opened disposition until the latching means areactuated to achieve closure. The operator will then mount the unit bygrasping grab handles 44 and 65, while climbing ladder 66. Downwardforce on the grab handle 44 will enhance the stability of the door 20and the grab handle because of the converging side walls of slotted area61. When situated within the cab 10, the operator will grasp handle 44,particularly along gripping handle portion 46, pivot the memberupwardly, and pull the door closed in the normal fashion. In order toachieve release of leg portion 52 from slotted portion 61, the grippinghandle 46 is raised upwardly to the disposition illustrated in phantomin FIG. 5, thereby clearing leg member 52 from slot 61. Latch 56 will,of course, retain door member 20 in closed disposition until theoperator wishes to dismount the cab.

I claim:

1. Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cabaccess doors in open disposition an comprising, in combination:

a. cab frame means, door panel means operatively associated with saidcab frame, hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel andpivotally securing said door panel to said cab frame along a first pivotaxis;

b. latch means operatively coupled between said access door and said cabframe means and arranged to releasably secure said door in opendisposition;

c. said latch means including second hinge means with a first portionthereof coupled to said cab frame, and with a second portion whichcomprises an elongated plate pivotally coupled to said first portionalong a second pivot axis and having at least one slotted detent meansformed therein, said door panel including guide means for guidablyretaining said elongated plate generally along the plane of said doorpanel, and with said second pivot axis being laterally spaced from andgenerally parallel to said first pivot;

d. said latch means being pivotally secured to said door panel andincluding a generally horizontally disposed U-shaped gripping handlehaving a base and a pair of leg elements, said leg elements couplingsaid gripping handle to said door panel;

e. said leg elements having pin means extending transverselytherethrough to pivotally secure said leg elements to said door paneland adapting said handle for rocking pivotal motion about said pinmeans, one of said leg elements having a portion extending incontinuation away from said gripping handle and beyond said pin meansand arranged for engagement with he lower edge of said elongated plateand said slotted detent, the arrangement being such that when saidgripping handle base is pivoted downwardly, said continuing leg portionengages said slotted detent, and said door panel is releasably lockablysecured in open disposition. 2. The door latch means as defined in claim1 being particularly characterized in that said hinge means adjacent onelateral edge of said door panel are disposed toward the rear of saidvehicle cab.

3. Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cabaccess doors in open disposition and comprising, in combination:

a. cab frame means, door panel means operatively associated with saidcab frame, hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel andpivotally securing said door panel to said cab frame along a first pivotaxis;

b. latch means operatively coupled between said access door and said cabframe means and arranged to releasably secure said door in opendisposition;

c. said latch means including second hinge means with a first portionthereof coupled to said cab frame, and a second portion comprising anelongated plate pivotally coupled to said first portion along a secondpivot axis laterally spaced from said first pivot axis and having atleast'one slotted detent means formed therein inwardly from the free endthereof, said door panel including guide means for guidably retainingsaid elongated plate generally along the plane of said door panel;

d. said latch means further including a generally horizontally disposedUT-shaped gripping handle having a base and a pair of leg elementsextending therefrom and with means pivotally coupling the leg elementsof said gripping handle to said door panel;

e. said leg elements having pin means secured thereto for pivotallysecuring said leg elements to said door panel and adapting said grippinghandle for rocking pivotal motion generally about said pin means, atleast one of said leg elements having a shank portion extending awayfrom said gripping handle and beyond said elongated plate and arrangedfor engagement with one elongated edge of said elongated plate and withsaid slotted detent, the arrangement being such that when said grippinghandle base is pivoted downwardly and when said leg extension portionengages said slotted detent, said door panel is releasably locked inopen disposition.

4. The door latch means as defined in claim 3 being particularlycharacterized in that said hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of saiddoor panel are disposed toward the rear of said vehicle cab.

1. Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cabaccess doors in open disposition and comprising, in combination: a. cabframe means, door panel means operatively associated with said cabframe, hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel andpivotally securing said door panel to said cab frame along a first pivotaxis; b. latch means operatively coupled between said access door andsaid cab frame means and arranged to releasably secure said door in opendisposition; c. said latch means including second hinge means with afirst portion thereof coupled to said cab frame, and with a secondportion which comprises an elongated plate pivotally coupled to saidfirst portion along a second pivot axis and having at least one slotteddetent means formed therein, said door panel including guide means forguidably retaining said elongated plate generally along the plane ofsaid door panel, and with said second pivot axis being laterally spacedfrom and generally parallel to said first pivot; d. said latch meansbeing pivotally secured to said door panel and including a generallyhorizontally disposed ''''U''''-shaped gripping handle having a base anda pair of leg elements, said leg elements coupling said gripping handleto said door panel; e. said leg elements having pin means extendingtransversely therethrough to pivotally secure said leg elements to saiddoor panel and adapting said handle for rocking pivotal motion aboutsaid pin means, one of said leg elements having a portion extending incontinuation away from said gripping handle and beyond said pin meansand arranged for engagement with he lower edge of said elongated plateand said slotted detent, the arrangement being such that when saidgripping handle base is pivoted downwardly, said continuing leg portionengages said slotted detent, and said door panel is releasably lockablysecured in open disposition.
 2. The door latch means as defined in claim1 being particularly characterized in that said hinge means adjacent onelateral edge of said door panel are disposed toward the rear of saidvehicle cab.
 3. Door latch means for releasably securing side pivotedvehicle cab access doors in open disposition and comprising, incombination: a. cab frame means, door panel means operatively associatedwith said cab frame, hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said doorpanel and pivotally securing said door panel to said cab frame along afirst pivot axis; B. latch means operatively coupled between said accessdoor and said cab frame means and arranged to releasably secure saiddoor in open disposition; c. said latch means including second hingemeans with a first portion thereof coupled to said cab frame, and asecond portion comprising an elongated plate pivotally coupled to saidfirst portion along a second pivot axis laterally spaced from said firstpivot axis and having at least one slotted detent means formed thereininwardly from the free end thereof, said door panel including guidemeans for guidably retaining said elongated plate generally along theplane of said door panel; d. said latch means further including agenerally horizontally disposed ''''U''''-shaped gripping handle havinga base and a pair of leg elements extending therefrom and with meanspivotally coupling the leg elements of said gripping handle to said doorpanel; e. said leg elements having pin means secured thereto forpivotally securing said leg elements to said door panel and adaptingsaid gripping handle for rocking pivotal motion generally about said pinmeans, at least one of said leg elements having a shank portionextending away from said gripping handle and beyond said elongated plateand arranged for engagement with one elongated edge of said elongatedplate and with said slotted detent, the arrangement being such that whensaid gripping handle base is pivoted downwardly and when said legextension portion engages said slotted detent, said door panel isreleasably locked in open disposition.
 4. The door latch means asdefined in claim 3 being particularly characterized in that said hingemeans adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel are disposed towardthe rear of said vehicle cab.